Reman to the Rescue
Remanufactured parts have been a mainstay of the aftermarket.
Will Changing the Friction Change How ABS and Traction Control Systems Perform?
By Thomas Hall, Automotive Engineer Everybody who sells, installs or orders brake pads should be asking themselves the following questions: Will installing replacement brake pads from any source impact the performance of the safety systems that use brake control? Also, are all these new safety systems capable of adapting to different brake pads? The control
17th Annual Technical Forum: Wheel bearings
Counterman magazine presents 15 technical and sales topics in an easy-to-read question-and-answer format for the magazine’s annual Technical Forum. This article appeared in the August 2009 issue.
The automotive aftermarket must stop selling at the lowest price
In no industry is selling at the lowest possible price more prevalent than the troubled auto industry, where the “Best Price” advertising and the lowest cost per vehicle are the only ways these dealers sell their wares.
Hybrids are raising the green bar
As gasoline prices head back above the $3 a gallon mark, so does the public’s interest in fuel-efficient vehicles such a hybrids. Toyota’s third generation Prius (2010 model year) raises the green bar even higher with its latest refinements.
Questions to Ask When Friction is Returned
Perhaps the toughest assignment for an auto parts professional is dealing with a warranty return on brake friction.
Solving Master Cylinder Warranty Issues
Although dealing with warranty complaints can be a touchy business, the position of strength for the counterman is to have good basic working knowledge of how and why brake components like master cylinders fail.
Ask Your Customers the Right Questions
Bench testing a customer’s old alternator or starter can help avoid comebacks.
What Should You Know When Selling or Ordering Rotors?
By Andrew Markel, editor, Brake & Front End magazine It’s tough for a parts professional to know what they are getting when they buy a rotor. Factors such as brand, quality control and reputation among technicians should be considered when making a choice. If the technician or counterpro is only going on the price on
The Value of My Jobber Partner
Looking back over the 31 years since I opened my own shop, it’s not hard to see that a positive and productive jobber/shop relationship is the primary ingredient for the success of any jobber or any shop operating in the independent market. On the one hand, many shop operators look at their local jobbers as